CHICAGO -- After nearly 12 years of playing professional baseball, a Major League clubhouse is still a relatively unfamiliar place for Mike Hessman.

But the 29-year-old infielder looked right at home in the Tigers clubhouse just hours after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo. Hessman credited the calm nerves to his previous, albeit brief, experience with his current teammates.

"I don't have the shock that it was when I got called up with the Braves," Hessman said. "It helped me to be in big league camp the last two years. I've known a lot of these guys and played with them. To see a lot of familiar faces is going to help out. I'm definitely more prepared this time around."

Hessman is hoping this trip to the bigs goes a little more smoothly than his last time up. In two stints with Atlanta in 2003 and 2004, Hessman hit .167 over 90 at-bats.

He earned his way to Detroit with a blistering start to the 2007 campaign with Toledo. In 97 games with the Mud Hens, Hessman hit .256, but also led the International League with 27 home runs and 86 RBIs.

"We didn't give Hessman anything," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He was down in Triple-A, he put his nose to the grindstone and he did well."

Hessman's leap to the big leagues was preceded by two of the worst seasons of his career. He hit .214 with Toledo in 2005 and his average dropped to .165 in 2006.

"We finally figured out how to change my mental approach, in terms of my thought process on how I needed to swing," Hessman said. "I used to have a fly ball approach, but I've never had a problem getting the ball in the air. So they taught me to swing down, and that is the thought process that I've taken into this year."

At 29, Hessman is no longer a top prospect, but he said that his new approach has taken the stress out of the normally life of an aging Minor Leaguer.

"I knew from the year before, when I struggled, how frustrating that was," Hessman said. "I knew I had the potential to do what I'm doing this year. For it to finally come and for things to start to fall into place, I've had a really carefree attitude, saying almost, 'Who cares, let's go out and have some fun.'"

Hessman will get plenty of chances to show what he can do with the Tigers. He was in the starting lineup at first base on Monday night and Leyland indicated he could also see time at third base and in left field.

Hessman struck out looking in his first at-bat on Monday against White Sox starter Mark Buehrle.

A down day: The death of Mike Coolbaugh, the Double-A first base coach that was struck in the head with a baseball on Sunday, shocked and saddened many Tigers players and coaches, including a few with personal connections to the former Minor Leaguer.

Marcus Thames roomed with Coolbaugh during Spring Training with the Yankees and Leyland was with the Cardinals organization while Coolbaugh was at Spring Training with that organization.

"I can't believe it," Leyland said. "He was a good guy."

Leyland has had experience with the hazards of being a base coach. He spent a number of years coaching third and said there were times that he did not feel safe.

"There were times where I had to be quick to get out of the way," Leyland said. "It was real scary when certain guys were up there."

The incident with Coolbaugh raises questions over whether base coaches should be required to wear helmets.

"I think that will be next," Leyland said. "But if you want to look at it that way, why don't pitchers wear helmets?"

Another shot: Prior to Monday night's game, Leyland announced that right-hander Virgil Vasquez would get the start in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader. It will be the second career start for the 25-year old rookie and his first since May 13.

Vasquez was drubbed in his lone career start, lasting just 2 2/3 innings while giving up six earned runs on nine hits against the Twins.

"We didn't forget about Virgil the first time he had a tough outing and we're not going to forget about him this time, no matter what happens tomorrow," Leyland said. "He's a prospect, that's what he is. He has been pressed into a tough situation."

Jeremy Bonderman will start the afternoon game for the Tigers, with the hope that that the bullpen will be rested for the nightcap in case Vasquez finds himself in some early trouble.

Vasquez will be sent down immediately following his start. Leyland declined to say who would take his place, but did indicate that it will be a reliever.

Vasquez is 9-3 with a 3.82 ERA in 19 starts with Toledo this season.

Almost ready: Joel Zumaya continued his rehab on Monday, throwing off a mound before the series opener with the White Sox. Zumaya has been on the disabled list with a right middle finger strain since May 3.

"It felt really good," Zumaya said.

Leyland was hopeful about the right-hander's return.

"The trainer said the hand was 99 percent the strength of the other," Leyland said.

Coming up: The Tigers will play a pair of games on Tuesday with Bonderman (10-1, 3.53 ERA) taking the hill against Javier Vazquez (7-5, 3.73 ERA) in the 2:05 p.m. ET start. Vasquez (0-1, 20.25) will face fellow rookie Gavin Floyd (0-1, 9.53) in Game 2, an 8:11 p.m. ET start.